Power-transmission mechanism



Jan. 18,1927.A 1,614,637

, W. l. WHEELER POWER TRANSMI S S ION MECHANI S M original Filed Jan. 2, 192s '4 sheets-sheet 1 l Il, OE IO li |""V E@ 4 gvwefntoz N Mama/f Jan. 18,1927. 1,614,637 E W. I. WHEELER POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISMl Original Filed Jan. 2, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zig 36' um I l m l'f/ll//l/l/l i Jan. 18,1927.

w. l. WHEELER POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM original Filed Jan. 2, 192:

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 M/ l/ @eff/r atto: nu,

Jan.A 18,1927.

W. l. WHEELER POWER TRANSMISSION MEcHANIsM 4 sheets-sheet 4 Original Filed Jan.l2, 19255 tw. WA der Patented Jan. 18,1927.

WILLIAM ISIAH-WHEELEB, F SOTTV'ILLE, ILLINGIS.

QPOWER-TBANSHISSION MECHANISH. f

Application led January 2, 1923, SerialNo. 610,249. Renewed August 24, 1926.

This invention relates to certain improvements in powerA transmission mecahnisms 'and it is an object of the invention to pro- Xvide a novel 'and improved mechanism of this general character' wherein the speed of the driven shaft with respect to the driving shaft is automatically controlled and particularly in accordance with the engine load.

Another objectl `of the invention is to pro- IU vide a novel and improved mechanism of.

this general character embodying driving and driven shafts together with aclutching means rotating with one of said shafts and operating automatically to controlthespeed l5 of the driven shaftwith respect to the driving shaft. I y

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and im rovedA device of this general character em odying an operative connection between driving Vand driven shafts including a member loosely mounted onthe shafts, together withmeans for holding said member against rotation in one direction in unison with the shafts, together with a clutching means rotating with one of said shafts and automatically operating to cause the member to rotate in one direction in unison with the shafts.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the -combination and arrangementkof the several parts of my improvedpower l Vtransmission mechanism,

whereby certain important advantages are.

attained and the device rendered simpler,

. less expensive'and otherwise more conven-y ient and advantageous for use, as w1ll be hereinafter more fully set forth;

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be more definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the` better understood, I will lnow proceed to Y describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein i Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in sectionand partly in elevation illustrating a power transmission mechanism constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention; I

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the structure as illustrated'in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view takensubstantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure4 `is a view similar to iFigure 2 showing certain of the parts in a second position; f-

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substan- L tially on the line 5 5 -of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 -isa fragmentary view partly in 6| elevation and partly in section illustrating y a further embodiment Nof my invention;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view 'partly-in section and partly in elevation ilsupported in4 a'- conventional manner within 76 a housing or casing A, the inserted end portion of 'said shaft 'being operatively engaged with an inserted end portion of the driven shaft S, said shafts S and D being in longitudinal alignment.

Loosely mounted upon and surrounding the shaft S is an -elongated sleeve 1 and mounted upon and surrounding the portion of the sleeve L is the hub 2 arranged at the i axial center of the plate 3, said plate 3 constituting an end Wall of the housing 4. As-

sociated with the housing 4 is-a second end plate'or head 5 which is removable and held in applied position through the instrumen- 'tality of thescrews I6 or the like, said plate 0o or head 5 beingrJ freely mountedon the shaft D, so that the shafts D and S and the housing 4 are capable of independent rotation or of rotation in unison. v A.

The inserted end of the shaft D is pro- 96 vided with a relatively broad gear 7 and meshing with said gear 7 are diametrically opposed gears 8. Each of the gears 8 is fixed to a shaft9 rotatably supported by a carriage 10, said vcarriage being supported -by the housing 4 for sliding movement in a direction longitudinally of the shafts D and S. The inner or inserted end of the sleeve 1 is provided with a gear 11 preferably of a greater radius than the gear 7. y The gear 11 is in-mesh -with the gears 12 when the carriages 10 are in one position, said gears 12 being each fixed to a shaft 9. By this lmeans the shaft D is operatively engaged with the sleeve 1 and in a manner whereby 1w 25 .riphery at diametricallyopposed points with the sleeve lfmay be rotated with ya -speed` less than the speed of the shaft D;- The various gears just referred to may be of any desired ratio so that the ratio of speed between the driving shaft D and the sleeve l may be as preferred.' I

Each ofthe carriages is also provided with a relatively broad gear 14 constantly in mesh with a gear 8. But,when the carriages 10 are sufficiently moved in a direction inwardly-of the shaft S or the sleeve 1, the gears 12 disengage from the gear 11 and the gears 14 arebrought into mesh with the gear 11 resulting in a reverse rotation of the sleeve 1. When this reversing ofvthe directionof rotationdofithejsleeve 1 is re-` quired, a suitablel braking means generally indicatedat C is employed to positively hold the` .housing or casing A agamsJ rotation,` This mechanism C may be any type preferred and is adapted to manually operate from a point exteriorly of the housing'or casing A.

The head or plate '5'is provided with a h ub15. Thehub' is provided in its pethe sockets 16 from which extend the links 17. The inner ends of the links are provided with the balls 18 seating in the supplemental sockets 19 so that the links 17 will bescarried in a substantially radial position" when the hub 15 .and the housing 4 rotate in one direction but will beautomaticallly shifted to a position inclined 'to the radial when the hub l5 is shifted in the opposite direction. Each ofthe links 17 is pi votally connected -to the adjacent end portions of a friction band o r brake section 20 and, as lis particularly illustrated in Figure 5, it is to be noted that each of the friction band or brakesections is pivotally connected inwardly of the adjacent end of the second band or brake section and that thereis suiicient space between the band or vbrake section to permit the same to rock. The links 17 operate as toggle links so that when the hub lltogether with the housing 4 is-'rotatedVv in one direction the- 'baud or brake sections 20 will be expanded and when rotated in :the opposite direction said band or brake sections will be contracted. When the sections 20 are expanded they frictinnally engage the annular flange 21 arranged within the casing or housing A and carried by the wall thereof, said flange 21 being concentric to the hub 15. By this meansv the housing 4 isfree torotate in one direction with the shafts lD and S but is h locked against rotation when said shafts are rotated in 'a reverse direction. I do not. wish to be understood as limiting myself to this exact means for locking the housing'4 against rotation in one direction as other means may be employed with ,equalfade. 22 ienotesan actuating mechanism for. the

carriages 10 and which mechanism may be p in disclosed as any conventional 'mechanism may be substituted therefor.

The sleeve 1 extends beyond the adjacent plate or head 3`of the housing 4 and keyed' or otherwise `fixed to the extended lportion of said sleeve 1 is a 'discior plate 23 provided at diametrically opposed points .with the outstanding shafts 24. These shafts 24 eX- tend through arcuate slots 25 of predetermined length, provided in the -plate or disc 26 keyed or 'otherwise fixed to the shaft S.

Pivotally engaged with the .shafts 24 is a link27 also'lpivotall connected as at 28 to a second link 29,\fsai link 29 being pivotally engaged as at 30.to thevplate 26. Disposed imityy to and outwardly ofjthe extremitywof the slot 25 is a'plu or bushing 31, through which is directed t e shank or bolt 32 vided at its inner end portion with the left hand threads 33, said threaded portion being directed through aplug or bushing 34 operatively engaged with the annular member 35 surrounding and concentric to the -disc or plate 23. Interposed between the an PTO- through the plate 26 in relatively close proxl nular member 35 and' the'marginal portion of the plate 26 andv arranged outwardly of the bolts or shank's 32 is an annular member 36 arranged Within and carried by the outstanding flange 37iixed to thefadjacent end portion of the housing 4. l

Fixed tothe outer end portion of each of the bolts or Shanks 32 is a head 38 provided with an inwardly directed arcuate arm or Qbill 39 which operatively engages the adjacent shaft 24 upon swinging or rocking movement of the head 38 in one direction to effect movementof the shaft 24 along the slot 25.

TheV lead I38 is valso provided with an elongate rod 4() on Lwhich is slidably mounted a weighted member 41. Associated with .the member 41 is an expansible member' 42 for automatically urging the weighted member 41 linwardly of the rod 40. v As herein disclosed the member 42 comprises a coil spring encircling the rod 4() and interposed between'the weighted member 41 and a Stop member ornut 43 threaded upon the outer extremity ofthe rod 40.

`When the drive shaft l) is inactive, the

rods 40 andthe shafts 24 with their jassoci- I ated parts assume the position illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, and in which position t-he plate 26 and the annulanmember 35 are freeof the interyposed member '36. With the gears '12 meshing with .the gearfll, theJiou'sing 4, upon rotation of the shaft D is held against rota- .tion by the brake vsections 2 0, whereupon the 130 sleeve l togetherwith the plate 23 is caused to rotate. As the plate 23 rotates the shafts 2400 engage or contact with similar ends J pressure against the curved arms or bills 39 and thereby increasing the resistance or leverage in opposition to the outward movement of the rods 40 under the action of centrifugal force and thereby effectively preventing the plate 26 and member 35 engaging the member 3 6 while the shaft S is pulling at a reduction or atta speed lower than direct drive. This condition is maintained until the centrifugal force' causes the rds 4() to swing outwardly and pull upon the links 27 and-29fup to a position slightly out of alignmentfas illustrated in Figure 2. This movement results in sutlicientrotation of the, bolts or shanks 32 Ato cause engagement between the plate 26 and the --members 35 and 36 and whichI action is easily accomplished by accelerating the motor sufficient to generate the required momentum and then releasing the accelerationftoallow the stress or strain between the gears 7 and 11 to equalize, resultinv in the rods 40rtaking position under centrifugal force as illustrated in Figure 2, and which limited movement is assured by the stop membe'rsor lu' 44 carried by the peripheral portion of t e plate 26. Under these conditions the shaft S will lbe rotating as a unit with the shaft D or direct;

It is also to be understood that thesame result occurs by the load or other resistance offered as when ascending. a hill or other conditions and in-which event the arms or bills 39 under centrifugal forcevresults in the automatic operation of the clutching means bv rotation of the shaft S and its parts slightly faster than the shaft D for a distance equal to the length of a slot 25..

When the rods 40 are in their outer position as illust-rated in Figure 2, it is to be noted that the shafts 24 offer a kshorter leverage or less resistance to the arms or bills 39. thus affording a variable resistance to the tripping or moving of the links 27 and 29 so that upon reduction of speed of the shaft S the plate 26 and themembers 35 and 36 will correspondingly disengage and thereby allow the gears to drive the plate 26 and the shaft S at a correspondingly lesser speed. v I y The extent of straightening movement f each pair of links 27 and 29 is-controlled by a screw 47 threaded through an outstanding lug 48 carried by the plate 26 and with member 55.

` which the inner end portion of 4one of the links, as 27 contacts. The screw 47 is adapted tofbe adjusted to regulate the extent of straightemn movement of the links in order to effect t e different tripping or releasing positions as the requirements of practice may prefer,

In Figure 7 I illustrate another embodiment of my invention wherein the inner marginal portion of the annular member `36 is provided therearound with a seriesof notches which upon rotation of a. bolt or shank 32 under centrifugal action causes a dog or pawl 46 carried by said bolt or shank 32 to engage within one of said notches 45 and thereby effect the desired direct drive of the driven shaft.

head or plate 5 has fixed thereto an externally toothed angular member 47 with which coacts a dog-D supported for rocking movement by the housing or casing A. 'lhe dog D 'has its working end formed into a toothed segment 48 which engages teeth of the member 47.

, The dog D is provided with an extension or tail 49, the inner edge 50 of which is arcuatel disposed so that when the member 47 together with the housing 4 are rotating inv their clockwise or normal direction, the dog D will offer no hinderance or obstruction to such rotation, Upon retrograde or reverse rotation of the housing 4 the dog D will swing downwardly by gravityto effect the desired mesh between the segmental gear 48 and a toothed member/47, resulting in the tail or extension 49 contacting with the top member 5.1, said member being preferably slidably disposed through the casi-ng orl housing A and may be manually operated or may'be operated from the reverse pedal of .the engine or motor or otherwise as. the requirements of practice may prefer.

The ber 47 to hold the housing 4 against rotation .in one direction but permits the same to have free rotation in the opposite direction. The dog D also operates to advantage whereby the vehicle to which my improved transmission mechanism may be applied is prevented from having rearward or backward movement and paricularly in the eventof engine trouble or the like.

The plate 3 of the housing 4 outwardly of the hub 53 of the disc or plateI 23 is provided with the oustanding jaws or lugs 52 which are adapted to coact with the jaws or lugs 54 carried by the sliding clutch hub and is provided with diametrically opposed outstanding arms 56 provided adjacent their free extremities and in the outer faces thereof with the complemental cam dog D coacts with the toothed menrf The member 55 surrounds the grooves 57. The arms 56 are freely disposed through the plate or disc 23 and the plate 26', the cam grooves 57 being positioned outwardly of the plate 26.

The plate 26 isvfixed to the driven shaft S and carries the arcuate arms or bills 39 each constructed and operating in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth relative tothe arms or bills 39. As the arms or bills 39 move downwardly they coact with the cam grooves 57 to force the clutch member 55 inwardly toward the plate 3 off the casing 4 to bring the jaws or lugs 5I into locking engagement with the jaws or lugs 52 carried by the plate 3 whereby the housing 4 is locked for rotation with the shaft S.,

-Each of the arms or bills 39 is mounted upon the outer endk portion of the boltor shank 32', said shank or bolt being directed through a plug or bushing 3l threaded or otherwise disposed through the plate 2G.

Coacting with the shank or bolt 3:2 is the holding nut 58.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a power transmission lmechanism constructed in accordance .with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of theconvenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that l my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and 4formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In a transmission mechanism, a shaft,

alsecond shaft, one of said shafts constituting a driven shaft and the other a driving shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted 'on one of the shafts,` a member fixed to said shaft, means operatively connecting said sleeve and the second shaft including a housing, said housing being loosely mounted on the shaft and sleeve. a gear assembly carried by the housing and coacting with the second shaft and the sleeve. coacting clutching means carried by the housing and the member, and means for bringing into action said coacting clutching means.

2. In a transmission mechanism, a shaft, a second shaft,r one of said shafts constituting a driven shaft and the other a driving shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on one of the shaft-s, a member fixed to said shaft, means operatively connecting said sleeve and the second shaftincluding a housing, said housing being loosely mounted on the shaft and sleeve, a gear assembly carried by the housing and coacting with the second shaft and the sleeve, coacting clutching means carried by the housing andthe member,

and means o erable under the ,infiuence of centrifugal orce for bringing into action said coacting clutching means, and means for regulating the action of said centrifugally operated means.

3. In a transmission mechanism, a shaft,

.a second shaft, one of said shafts constituting a driven shaft and the other a ldriving shaft, means operatively connecting said shafts including a sleeve loosely mounted on one of the shafts, a casing mounted on said sleeve and the second shaft, and a gear assemblycarried by the casing and coacting with the second shaft and the sleeve, a member carried by the first shaft, means carried by the sleeve and coacting with said member for rotating the member with the sleeve,

vand centrifugally operated clutching means carried by said member and coacting with the casing to lock the casing for rotation with said member.

f Ul. In a transmission`mechanism, a shaft, a second shaft, one of said shafts constituting a driven shaft and the other a driving shaft, means operatively connecting said shafts including a sleeve loosely mounted on one of the shafts, a casing mounted on said sleeve and the second shaft, a gear assembly carried by the casing and coacting with the second shaft and the sleeve, a member carried by the first shaft, means carried by the sleeve and coacting with said member i for rotatingthe member with the sleeve, a shank rotatably supported by the member, centrifugally operated means for rocking the shank, and a clutching element carried by the shank and coacting with the casing upon rotation of the shank'under the action of the centrifugal means for locking the casing for rotation with the member..

5. 'In a transmission mechanism, a shaft, a second shaft, one ofv said shafts constituting a driven shaft and the other a driving` shaft, means operatively connecting said shafts including a sleeve loosely mounted on one of the shafts, a casing mounted on said sleeve andthe second shaft, a gear assembly carried by the casing and coactng with the second shaft and the sleeve, a member carried by the first shaft, means carried by thesleeve and coacting with said member for rotating the member with the sleeve, a shank rotatably supported by the member, a weighted member carried bythe shank and moving under centrifugal force to rotate the shank, amllutching means operatively connecting said sleeve and the second shaft including a housing, said housing being loosely mounted on the shaft and sleeve, a gear assembly carried by the housing and coacting with the second shaft and the sleeve, coacting clutching means carried by the housing and the member fixed to t-he iirst named shaft, and means operable under the influence of centrifugal force for bring! ing into action said coacting clutching means, and means for offering variable lresistance to the first named means.

. '7. In a transmission mechanism, a shaft, a second shaft, one of said shafts constituting a driven shaft and the other aV driving shaft, means operatively connecting said shafts including a sleeve loosely mounted on one of the shafts, a member fixed to said shaft, a casing mounted on said sleeve and the second shaft, a gear assembly carried by the casing and coacting with the second shaft and-the sleeve and coacting with said member Ifor rotating the member with the sleeve, a, shank supported by the member, a rod carried by the shank, a weighted member slidable on the rod, means for urging the Weighted member inwardly of the rod and coacting clutching means carried by the casing and member, said clutching means coming into action upon rotation of the shank in one direction.

8. In a transmission mechanism, a shaft,

a second shaft, one of said shafts constituting a driven shaft and the other a driving shaft, means operatively connecting said shafts including a sleeve loosely mounted on one of the shafts, a casing mounted on said sleeve and the second shaft, a gear assembly carried by the casing and coacting with the second shaft and the sleeve, a member carried` by the first shaft, means carried vby the sleeve and coacting with said member for rotating the member with the sleeve, a shank supported by the member,

a weighted` member carried by the shankand moving under centrifugal force to rot'ate the shank, clutching means carried by the shank for engagement with the casing und r the action of vsaid weighted member. to lock the casing for rotation with thev first named member, and means for limiting the movement of the Weighted member undercentrifugal force.l

9.l In a transmission mechanism, a shaft, a second shaft,l one of said shaftsconstitut' ingfa driven shaft, and the other a driving shaft, means operatively connecting said shafts including a sleeve loosely mounted on one ofthe shafts, a casing mounted on said sleeve and the second shaft, a gear assembly carried by the casing and coacting `with the second shaft and the sleeve, a

- member carried'by the sleeve and provided with an outstanding shaft, a second member'iixed to the first named shaft' and pro-` lshaft, and the sleeve,

.of the first member extends, an articulated rod connecting the shaft ofthe first member and the second member, a head provided with a bill engageable with the shaft of thel first member, means associated With the head for rocking the same in one direction under centrifugal force, and means operated upon such rocking movement of the headto clutch together the first named member'and the casing for unitary rotation.

l0. In a transmission mechanism, a shaft, a second shaft, one of said shafts constitutinv a driven shaft and the other a driving s iaft, means operatively connecting said shafts including a sleeve loosely mountedfon one of the shafts, a casino" sleeve and lthe second sha-ft, a. gear assembly carried by the casing and coacting with the second shaft and the sleeve," a member carried by the sleeve and provided with an outstanding shaft, a second member fixed to the first named shaft and provided with a slot mounted on said through which the shaft of the first membervff" extends, an articulated rod connectingftlie shaft of the first memberand the second member, a head provided with a bill engageable with the shaft of the first member,

means 'associa-ted with the head for rocking the same in one direction under centrifugal force, means operated upon such rocking movement of the head to clutch together the first named member and the casing for unitary rotation, and meanscoacting with the articulated rod to limit the extent of straightening movement of said rod.

11. In a transmission mechanism, a shaft, a second shaft one of said shafts constituting a driven shaft and the other a driving shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on one of the shafts, a member fixed to said shaft, means operatively connecting said sleeve and the second shaft including a housing, said housing being loosely mounted on the shaft and sleeve, a gear assembly carried by the housing and coacting with the second coacting clutching means carried bythe housing and the member, and' mea-ns operable under the influence of centrifugal force for bringing into action said coacting clutching means. v 12. In a transmission mechanism, a shaft, a second shaft, one of said shafts'constitutingA a driven shaft'and the other a driving shaft a sleeve loosely mounted on one of the shafts, a member fixed to said shaft, means operatively connecting said sleeve and the second shaft including a housing, said housing being loosely mounted on the v shaft and sleeve, a gear assembly carried by by the housing and coacting with' the second y.shaft and the sleeve, coacting clutching llU said coacting clutching means, and means coacting with the housing to hold the same against rotation in one direction,

ing means offering no hindrance to the rotasaid housing being loosely mounted on theV shaft and sleeve, a gear assembly carried by the hdusing and coacting 4with the second shaft and the sleeve, coacting clutching means lcarried by the housing and the memmeans oper ble under the nfiuence of centrifugal force for bringing into action said coacting clutching means, and automatically engaging the housing the same against rot-ation inone vsaid holding means offering no hindrance to to hold means p irection,

the rotation of the housing in the opposite direction.` 4

14. In combination lwith a vehicle, a transmission mechanism comprising a shaft, a second shaft, one of said shafts constituting a driven shaft and the other -a driving shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on one of the shafts,

a member fixed to said shaft, means oper.-

atively connecting said'sleeve and the second shaft including a housing, a gear assembly carried by the housing and coacting with the second shaft and the sleeve, coacting clutching means carried by the housing and l the member, means operable under the in fiuence of centrifugal force for bringing into action said coacting clutching means, and means'for coacting with the housing to hold the vehicle against backing movement.

lIn testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature. I l

WILLIAM ISIAH WHEELER. 

